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TRIBUTE TO A GREAT ALUMNUS |
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Written by Mong Palatino
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Saturday, 20 September 2003 |
The National Union of Students of the Philippines extends its sincerest condolences to family and friends of Atty. Macapanton Yahya Abbas Jr.
Atty. Abbas was NUSP president in 1966-67 and Secretary-General in 1968.
He is considered as one of the most prominent national leaders the Union has produced. His legacy to the student movement continue to inspire the present generation of student leaders.
Atty. Abbas is remembered not ony for being the first Muslim NUSP President, but also as the President who made the Union the largest alliance of student councils in the country we know today.
During his term, he succeeded in persuading the majority of the student councils to withdraw from the then government-backed Student Council Alliance of the Philippines and over 100 student councils joined the NUSP exclusively. The International Student Movement and the World University Service gave NUSP sole recognition as the national union of students.
As NUSP President, Atty. Abbas asserted the independence of the student movement by mobilizing the students, especially those coming from Catholic schools, on domestic and international issues like the Vietnam war, abolition of the Laurel Langley Agreement on Parity rights, removal of the US Bases, abolition of Spanish as a compulsory language, passage of the bill of rights of students, and international issues affecting human rights in Indonesia, Palestine, Iran, Cyprus, Kashmir and Jammu.
The NUSP became the national student campaign center even before the advent of the First Quarter Storm. Atty. Abbas and his contemporaries paved the way for future NUSP leaders like Edgar Jopson to steer the Union towards social service, critical engagement and independent principled student movement.
We feel honored for having Atty. Abbas as our keynote speaker during our last year's National Students' Convention held at Oroquieta City. His words of wisdom and inspiration have definitely made a lasting impression to the student delegates about what the role of the youth should be at present and in the future.
He talked about the struggles of the student movement during his days and related it to the present situation. He bemoaned the lack of integrity of our leaders by inviting the US troops back in the country. He condemned the government's support to the war on terror by the United States and the militarist apporach to the problem of peace in Mindanao. His challenge to all student leaders will never be forgotten:
"What the students of today will say, the country will do tomorrow. The future belongs to the youth who have visions and fights for their attainment and not those who isolate themselves in the comfort of their families or who take the path of carefree and individualistic pursuit of the good life. Struggle for the rights of the people and the youth and you will never feel shame for the days of your youth in the twilight of your lives when you are about to cross the bar to eternity."
Atty. Abbas' unwavering determination to fight for his principles, his deep faith in the potentials of the youth and the collective solidarity of the Filipino people makes him one of the role models for student leaders.
We feel most proud of having our name associated with a great leader like him.
Raymond Palatino (sgd)
National President, National Union of Students of the Philippines
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